Conquerors' Comeback

Of the many characters who have fallen through the cracks of history and have escaped academic attention, one of the most fascinating is Fateh Bahadur Sahi, an obscure king of Huseypur (presently Husepur, in Gopalganj, Bihar), who fought against the British East India Company in the late 18th century.

- AKASH CHATTERJEE

In his new book, The Raja, the Rebel, and the Monk (Penguin), professor of history J.N. Sinha has tried to unravel Sahi's unusual life and rule, which even present-day inhabitants of Gopalganj are little aware of.

Fateh Bahadur ascended the throne of Huseypur around 1750, seven years before the Battle of Plassey. As with many other kingdoms, the British used deceit and treachery—in this case, they conspired with his cousin, Babu Basant Sahi—to usurp his throne. An indomitable spirit, Sahi fought a guerrilla war for three decades from the dense jungles of Gorakhpur, where he escaped after being dethroned. The book also focuses on his sudden disappearance after becoming a monk.